Hillary Clinton's Bernie Sanders Problem Is Bigger Than Anyone Realizes
A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) looks over campaign materials at a town hall meeting hosted by the candidate at Valley High School on July 24, 2015 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty ImagesLet’s all please stop asserting that Bernie Sanders can’t beat Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nomination race. Pundits and journalists galore have been declaring (alleged margin of error: zero) that the Vermont senator will lose to his party’s front-runner. Sure, his odds are long, but so far he’s shown substance, grit, and surprising appeal. Why not let the voters decide who will accept the torch in Philadelphia next summer?
Clinton is, without doubt, still the odds-on favorite to win, with plenty of support, cash, and ballast for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is more germane to ask: What impact might Sanders have on the former secretary of state in the nomination fight? And, if Sanders doesn’t win his party’s nomination, what impact might he have overall on Clinton’s chances of becoming the next president of the United States?